Cooling system for the radiators of automobile engines



J. E. ROBISON.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE RADIATORS 0F AUTOMOBILE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7, 1919' 1,403,709 Patented Jan. 17, 1922,

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. E. R'OBISON.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE RADIATORS 0F AUTOMOBILE ENGINLS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT 7, 1919.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHht' FS-SHEET 2.

5 D III W Ill/1 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y J. E. ROBISON.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE RADIATORS OF AUTOMOBILE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- I9I9.

1,403,709. Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

3 SHEEIS SHEET 3.

w I AENNN I IN VE IV 70,?

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. ROBISON, 01? DENVER, COLORADO.

COOLING SYSTEM FOR THE RADIATORS 0F AUTOMOBILE ENGINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. RoBIsoN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at the city and county of Denver and State ofColorado, have invented a new and useful Cooling System for theRadiators of Automobile Engines, of which the followin is aspecification.

y invention relates to a new automatically operating frost-proof,self-heating, and self-cooling radiator apparatus for the internalcombustion engines and motors of automobile, marine, and aviatingengines.

And the objects of my invention are:

First: to provide a radiator apparatus that will cool the enginescirculating water in the summer time.

Second: to provide a simple and practical radiator apparatus that willcool the circulating water of the engine or motor to a very much largerextent than the radiators in common use, and that effects this result byapplying cool air to the hottest points of the radiator and engine ormotor.

Third: to provide means for preventing the circulating water of theradiators of automobile engines from boiling in hot weather.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which;

, Figure 1 is a front view of an automobile radiator constructed inaccordance with my invention and illustrating my improved coolingsystem.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the bottom member of theradiator shell, showing the air passageway and the arched portion of thelower water reservoir.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing apartition which deflects the infiowing air down one side of the hollowshell and directs'it back over the engine as it rises through theopposite side of the shell.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the radiator, showing an anti-freezing systemconnected therewith.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of the lower portion of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic view, showing the manner of controlling thesupply of gas Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

Application filed October 7, 1919. Serial No. 328,956.

to the burner, and also the manner of electrically igniting the gas atthe burner, and

Fig. 9 is an edge view of the door which closes the heater chamber.

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout inseveral views.

Referring to the drawings:

Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 illustrate a radiator apparatus embodying myinvention.

In these figures the numeral 1, designates the radiator member of myradiator apparatus which is of new and novel construction, although itsarea of air passageways and water conduits may be of any suitableconstruction or of any of the constructions in common use. I preferablyuse, however, the construction shown in the accompanying drawings.

The new and novel features of the radiator apparatus appertain moreespecially to the shell 2, that surrounds the radiatingmedium 1, andwhich is constructed as follows:

The shell 2, of the radiator comprises a hollow wall frame whichsurrounds the radiating medium 1, the hollow side members, as well asthe hollow upper and lower members of which, form a continuous airpassageway or pipe 3, of the area desired for the different sizedradiators used with engines of different horse power.

The inner wall of the upper end of the shell, which fits on the upperreservoir, is partly cut away to allow a deflector or partition 4, torest upon the upper reservoir. This deflector extends diagonally acrossthe air passage in the upper end of the shell, and is designed todeflect the infiowing air down one hollow side wall of the shell orframe,

and to deflect the air coming u the opposite hollow side wall, back overtiie top of the engine. The deflector 4, has a central ring 5, and itsopposite ends are sprung, behind stops 6 and 7, which'are secured uponthe upper reservoir, the ring 5, fitting over the usual water inletnozzle 8. By this means.-

the deflector 4, is held in place before the shell is placed around theradiating medium, and when the shell is in place, the outer wall ofits-upper member holds the deflector in lace.

The lower reservoir 9, of the radiator is secured to the lower edge ofthe radiating medium in the usual manner, and the central portion ofthis reservoir is arched, as shown, to form a recess or chamber 14, inwhich is placed a fan, when the cooling sysoutlets are onl tem isemployed, and a heater when the antifreezing system is employed. Thearched portion 15, is also hollow, and forms a water connection betweenthe two horizontal portions of the reservoir.

The top strip 10, of the water trough is connected to the watercirculating passages 11, of the radiator by means of slots 12, forwardthrough its top portion 10.

The inner opposite walls of the arch 15,-

at their bottom portions are provided with water outlet nipples 8, theends of which are closed by caps 8 See F ig. 4. These water used in thewinter time in connection wit the radiator water heating apparatus,which will be presently described.

he lower member of the shell is provided with an opening 18, thatcommunicates with the fan chamber 14, and a fan 19, is placed in thechamber directly over the opening.

This fan 19, is secured on a shaft 20, that is journaled in end plates21, and 21 in position over the aperture 18, the end plates being boltedtogether and having flanges which fit in the recess 14. The fan is madeto fit closely, but revolubly in the arched chamber 14 of the reservoir9.

The shaft 20 of the fan 19, is provided with a coupling 22, at its innerend, by which it is coupled to the end of a shaft 23 that is supportedby a bearing 24, that is formed in a housing 25, that is attached to theadjacent side of the radiator.

On the drivin shaft'23, a second fan 26,

is secured, and t e shaft 23, extends beyond the housing far enough toreceive a small pulley 27, from which a belt 28, extends to a pulley 29,that is mounted on the crank shaft 30, of the engine, which rotates theshaft and its two fans.

The fan 26, is enclosed at its outside end along its lower edge by thehousing 25, the upper end of which is open. This housing 25, is providedwith apertures 26 in its side, and this fan draws air from all aroundthe sides of the engine through these apertures 26- into the housing andforces it upwardly against the overhanging end of the upper reservoir ofthe radiator, which is always the hottest part of a radiator, and alsoagainst the pipe members that connect the radiator with the engine ormotor and against the adjacent or front end of the engine. This fan alsoforces the cool air entering through the honey comb interstices of theradiator upwardly, so that they are directed to flow over the topportion of the engine, and thus I appl the cool air to the very hottestparts of t e radiator and the engine and their connecting pipe fittings.

In the front side of the upper member of the shell and on opposite sidesof the filling nozzle 8, are formed openings 32, and the suction fandraws cool atmospheric air in through these openings 32, into the airpassageway of the shell, where it strikes the deflector 4, which directsit down the side passage 33, of the shell, whence it passes into side ofthe air passage, which is left open for that purpose, as shown at 36Figure 2. The shell is formed with a horizontal, rearwardly extendingplate 37, which lies slightly above the top of the upper reservoir 38,and the air which is forced up behind the deflector 4, passes outbetween the plate 37, and the top of the reservoir-38, the rear portionof the plate being downwardly curved as shown at 40, to give the air adownward direction. After passing from under the plate 37, the cool airflows along under the hood of the engine rearwardly in contact with andover the engine; thus in addition to the cooling effect that the coolatmospheric air would naturally have on the surrounding edges of theradiator, it quite, measurably assists in directly cooling the engine inhot weather, which is the time of the year that it is my intention touse a fan in the arched chamber 14, in the bottom of the radiator.

The above description relates directly to the arrangement of theradiator for hot weather use, some of the minor parts of which areremoved when cold weather comes on and are replaced with means forheating the circulating water of the radiator instead of cooling it asin the hot weather period of the year.

The description of the water heating ele ments, of the invention are asfollows:

The fan 22, is removed from the arched recess and in its place I put awater circulating hollow conical casing 41, the opposite base portionsof which are connected by suitable pipes 9 and couplings 9 with thewater outlets 8 The conical casing 41 is heated by a as burner 42. Ipreferably use the Prest-g-Light gas commonly used for li hts ofautomobiles and a burner suitable For burning with a bright flame thatcharacter of gas. This burner is secured to the bottom wall of the lowermember of the shell by a plate 9, and it projects up through the opening18 and into the hollow central space 48, in the conical casing 41. Apipe 9 is connected to one end at the lower end of the burner and leadsto the Prest-O- Light cylinder, which is generally secured upon therunning board of the automobile.

To the top of this conical water circulating casing is" connected a,pipe 43, which extends up to and is connected at its opposite end to oneside of a water inlet angular fitting 44, that is connected to the upperI reservoir 38, of the radiator which projects rearwardly a shortdistance from the honeycomb air and water portion of the radiatortowards the engine. This connecting pipe 43, effects a completecirculation of the heated radiator water from the conical watercirculating casing 41, upto the reservoir 38, and down through thehoneycomb water passageways into the lower reservoir 9, and thence intothe heated conical casing and up through the pipe 43, through thefitting 44, into the upper reservoir 38, of the radiator. This pipe 43,is only used in the winter time, consequently in the summer time itslower end is disconnected from the casing 41, the outlet of which isclosed by a cap 46.

In order to protect t-he'gas burner from the cool air that would flow toit from the front of the radiator I hinge a glass door 50, to one sideof the outside surface portion of the looped recess 14, and secure aclosing keeper 51, on the opposite side of the recess and a latch device52, on the glass door that enables the glass door to be closed over theopening into the recess and its lamp. I also place on the opposite sideof the arched recess 14, a plate 21 that is mounted on the fan shaft andis provided with an inwardly projecting annular flange 54, that fitsinto the recess 14, against its inner wall, and thus closes thi innerend of the recess.

A water outlet angular pipe fitting 55, is secured to the lowerreservoir 9 on its inner side that receives the circulating pipeconnections that extend to the engine water circulating jacket. Theheated air that naturally flows to the rear end of the engine 56, isdeflected by a plate 57, that is arranged at the rear portion of theengine to deflect this constantly accumulated heated air underneath thedash board 58, and over the transmission case in such a manner as todeflect and lead the said air into the atmosphere underneath theautomobile.

This heat deflecting plate may consist of any suitable material, but ispreferably a piece of thin sheet metal and it is arranged and secured inthe different makes of automobiles in any suitable manner.

The use of this heat deflecting plate enables the continuous dischargeof the heated air from the space around the engine and within theengines covering hood and it allows a continuously flowing stream ofcool air to flow from the atmosphere in front of the automobile directlythrough the radiator into the space under and within the hood and on allsides of the engine or motor to the atmosphere underneath the car.

The gas burner is arranged to be lighted from the dash board by asparkfrom .an electric circuit connected to a battery or generator of anautomobile. I illustrate a diagrammatical view of the electricalconnections in which 59, represents a push button on the dash board 58,and 60, a wire having a contact 60 in line with and adjacent to the pushbutton, which wire extends therefrom to one pole of a battery 61, a wire62, extends from the other pole of the battery, and terminate at a pointbetween the forked ends of the burner 42. A Wire 63 also terminates atone end between the forked ends of the burner, and adjacent to the endof the wire 62, leaving a spark gap between the said ends of the saidwires 62, and 63, and the other end of the wire 63, terminates in acontact 64, in line with, and adjacent to the push button contact. Thuswhen the button 59 is pushed in, the contacts 60 and 64, close a circuitthrough the battery 61, and produces a spark in the gap between theterminal ends of the wires 62, and 63, which ignites the gas flowingfrom the burner.

The flowof the gas to the burner is also controlled from the dash boardthrough an adjusting rod 65, that is connected to a valve 66, that isplaced in the supply pipe that extends from the Prest-O-Light cylinder67.

The heating mechanism not only keeps the circulating water fromfreezing, but the heated air in the arched chamber is utilized to assistin maintaining the temperature in the radiator, and this is accomplishedin the following manner:

The openings 32, in the upper end of the radiator shell are closed inany suitable way, as by glass plates, and the deflector plate 4, isremoved. The air heated by the burner has a natural tendency to rise,and its only escape is through the opening 18, and up the hollow sidemembers of the shell and out through the opening 36, where it mingleswith the air passing through the radiator, and which passes over theengine and out under the plate ,57 to the atmosphere. By this means thehot air assists in maintaining a suitable temperature in both the lowerand and upper reservoir, and also heats the radiator along its sideedges.

My invention provides a combined apparatus for hot and cold weather use,and also that embodies a complete ventilating system from the atmospherein front of and through the radiator which creates a circulation throughthe entire space occupied by the motor to the atmosphere under theautomobile, and an electric ignition push button controlled circuit, aswell as a gas control, at the dash board within reach of the chauffeur.

The operation of the several cooperating features of my invention havebeen amply described in the description of its cooperating and coactingfeatures and need not be repeated here.

My invention provides a new and a complete cooling and heating apparatusfor hot and cold weather use for automobiles that is under full andcomplete control of the chauffeur from his seat in the automobile,

and while I have described and claimed the preferred construction andarrangement of my invention, I do not wish to. be limited thereto, aschanges may be made therein without departing from my invention.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. In a cooling system fOr the circulating water of the engines ofautomobiles, the combination with the water circulating and the aircooling passageways that form the main body portion of the radiators ofautomobiles and the engine, of an enclosed water trough along the bottomof said radiator provided with slots through its top, through whichwater enters said trough from said radiator, and having an enclosedupwardly extending recess portion formed in the center of its length andextending across it and around which said radiator water flows, saidrecess having a semicircular 0r arched top portion, a fan mountedconcentric to said recessed portion and means for rotating said fan, anair pipe arranged in the shell of said radiator and surrounding theoutside surface of said radiator, said air pipe being rovided with anaperture in its top opening into the recess of said trough, said airpipe around said radiator being provided with inlet apertures in theoutside, surface of its top portion, and with an air outlet on itsopposite side, and a fan mounted in the recess of said trough andpositioned over and to cover the opening in said air pipe andadapted todraw cool atmospheric air into said pipe and force it through it anddischarge it over said engine.

2. In a cooling system for the circulating water of the engines ofautomobiles, the combination with the water circulating and the aircooling passageways that form the main body portion of automobiles andthe engine, of the radiator provided with a water fillin nozzle at itstop and with a water troug along the bottom of said radiator providedwith slots through its top, through which waten enters said trough fromsaid radiator, and having an enclosed upwardly extending recess portionformed in the center of its length and extending across it and aroundwhich said radiator water fiows, and having pipe connected and closedoutlets in its op osite sides, said recess having a semicircular orarched top portion, a fan mounted concentric to said recessed portionand means for rotating said fan, a shell surrounding said radiatorprovided with an air assageway extending entirel around it an along theunderside of sai trough; said air passageway in the shell of saidradiator being provided with an air inlet apertures on opposite sides ofsaid nozzle in its outside surface and with an air outlet on itsopposite or inside surto draw cool air into and force it from saidradiator over said engine, said fan being supported on a shaft extendingthrough and beyond the inner side of said recess, a second fan mountedon said fan shaft and means includin a belt and pulley operated by saidengine for rotating said fans and their supporting shaft.

3. In a cooling system for the circulating water of the engines ofautomobiles, the combination with the water circulating and the aircooling passageways that form the main body )ortion of the radiators ofautomobiles an the engine, said radiator being provided with a waterinlet nozzle at its top, of an enclosed water trough along the bottom ofsaid radiator provided with slots through its top through which Waterenters said trough from said radiator, and having an enclosed upwardlyextending recess portion formed in the center of its length andextending across it and around which said radiator water flows, saidrecess having a semicircular or arched top portion, a fan mountedconcentric to said recessed portion, and means for rotating said fan, anair passageway extending along the underside of said trough andsurrounding said radiator provided with an aperture in its top openinginto the recess of said trough, said air pipe or passageway around saidradiator being provided with air inlet apertures in its outside surfaceor opposite side of said nozzle, a diaphragm across said air passagewayadjacent to said air inlet apertures and arranged to close said pipe onone side of said air inlet apertures,'and an air outlet in said pipeopposite to said diaphragm, and a fan mounted in the recess of saidtrough and positioned over and to cover the opening in said airpassageway, said fan being supported on a shaft extending through andbeyond the inner side of said recess, a second fan mounted on said fanshaft and means for rotating said fans and their supporting shaft, ahousing around the outside and lower edge of said second fan, open atits top end, said fan supporting shaft extending opposite to saidautomobile engines, and means including pulleys and a belt for 0011-necting said fans supporting shaft to the crank shaft of said engine,whereby cool air is drawn from the atmosphere and is circulated aroundthe shell of said radiator and discharged towards and over the saideugme.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. ROBISON.

Witnesses:

G. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ELIZABETH SMITH.

